Latest news with #AndreFabre
Glasgow Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Ombudsman aiming to put Eclipse rivals in the shade
John Gosden has won the Esher track's summer highlight four times, but now training in conjunction with son Thady, he has a horse who showed in the Prince of Wales's Stakes he is ready to add his name to the list of greats to race out of the family's historic Clarehaven base. 'We always thought he had the potential to be a horse of this class, but you can only find that out on the day,' said Thady Gosden reflecting on his brilliant performance at the Royal meeting. 'He would have been an unlucky loser, he had a few traffic problems but then he showed that great turn of foot that (sire) Night Of Thunder seems to give them and he picked up well when he asked him. Ombudsman was an impressive Ascot scorer (David Davies/PA) 'The idea before Ascot was that if he ran well enough there, then we would come for this. When it went the way it did and he came out of it well, it was very much the plan. We always thought we would start him later in the season, give him a run before Ascot and go from there. 'He's developed quite gradually and hopefully he's got a bright future.' Vadeni secured a first win for a French-trained horse since 1960 when scoring three years ago and Andre Fabre saddles his ultra-smart three-time Group One winner Sosie as he looks to add his name to the roll of honour. Two of those top-level victories have come in his last two starts and the Prix Ganay and Prix d'Ispahan winner – who currently heads the betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – adds a Gallic flavour to this stellar line-up. Sosie picks up impressively to reel in Sardinian Warrior and take out the Group One Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp! 🇫🇷 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 25, 2025 Fabre said: 'I don't know if he has improved (this season), he has been running over a different distance and he's a triple Group One winner. 'The horse hasn't surprised me this year, he has just confirmed what I thought. 'He is meeting different opposition on Saturday and it is an interesting race, with two Classic winners and a good older horse of Godolphin's – it's a good race. 'The ground is not a concern, he doesn't like the soft and enjoys that good ground.' Andre Fabre is the master trainer (Adam Morgan/PA) On what it would mean to add the Eclipse to his already glittering CV, the trainer added: 'Any race I'm running in I'm happy to win it, whether it's the Eclipse or a race in the country. It's not a trainer's race, it's a horse race.' It is no surprise to see Aidan O'Brien well-represented in this first major clash of the generations as the race's most successful trainer bids for a record-extending ninth success with beaten Derby favourite Delacroix (Ryan Moore) and French Derby hero Camille Pissarro (Christophe Soumillon). O'Brien said: 'Both of them have been very good since their last runs and we felt in the Derby with Delacroix, he got knocked down at the top of the hill and ended up too far back and I'd say the trip was too far. That's what we think. 'We didn't know going for the French Derby if Camille Pissarro would get the trip, but he did get it. This is probably a little bit tougher track and a tougher race, but everything has gone well and he's in good shape.' Ruling Court after winning the 2000 Guineas (Joe Giddens/PA) Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell is another of the Classic generation to make the trip from Ireland, while Charlie Appleby's 2000 Guineas champion Ruling Court finally steps up in trip after defeat at Royal Ascot. Charlie Appleby told 'The tempo of the St James's Palace Stakes was completely different to what Ruling Court encountered in the 2000 Guineas. They went an end-to-end gallop and he never really looked comfortable throughout the race. 'We have always wanted to step him up in trip and a mile and a quarter is probably the ideal distance to aim for as a first try over middle distances. There is only one Derby, so we obviously had a look at the mile-and-a-half route before deciding not to run at Epsom due to the ground. 'Conditions at Sandown look there to suit. He has won around the course before and has a significant weight pull against the older horses, which can often come into play in an Eclipse. It's a small but very strong field, and he's a Classic-winning colt who doesn't look out of place in the field.'
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Andre Fabre bids to eclipse rivals as 30-time champion French trainer eyes victory in midsummer race at Sandown
Andre Fabre is one of the world's greatest trainers and it is always significant when the man who has been champion in France 30 times targets a prize in England. Fabre's CV is extraordinary. He has won all five British Classics, not to mention a host of prizes at Royal Ascot and beyond. One major contest, however, has been out of his grasp but that could all change at Sandown on Saturday. The Coral-Eclipse is a highlight of midsummer. This is the 50th year the bookmakers have sponsored the Group One, won by equine stars such as City Of Troy and Sea The Stars. If Fabre has his way, Sosie — a progressive four-year-old whose ultimate aim is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe — will rectify the anomaly and ensure the prize goes back to France. Sosie is second favourite behind Ombudsman, who was electrifying last month when winning the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, and Fabre believes conditions at Sandown will be ideal for the colt. 'I prefer to run him on good summer ground,' he said. 'Older horses do improve in terms of strengthening up, but it doesn't mean they're much better. The ability is the same. The opposition is strong and if he's in the first three I'll be delighted.' Maybe Fabre is being a little coy, given that only six runners head to post, but the quality is outstanding. Aside from Ombudsman, Godolphin will also be represented by 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court. 'We've always wanted to step him up in trip, and a mile and a quarter is probably ideal,' said trainer Charlie Appleby. 'He has a significant weight pull against the older horses.'
The Herald Scotland
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Ombudsman aiming to put Eclipse rivals in the shade
'We always thought he had the potential to be a horse of this class, but you can only find that out on the day,' said Thady Gosden reflecting on his brilliant performance at the Royal meeting. 'He would have been an unlucky loser, he had a few traffic problems but then he showed that great turn of foot that (sire) Night Of Thunder seems to give them and he picked up well when he asked him. Ombudsman was an impressive Ascot scorer (David Davies/PA) 'The idea before Ascot was that if he ran well enough there, then we would come for this. When it went the way it did and he came out of it well, it was very much the plan. We always thought we would start him later in the season, give him a run before Ascot and go from there. 'He's developed quite gradually and hopefully he's got a bright future.' Vadeni secured a first win for a French-trained horse since 1960 when scoring three years ago and Andre Fabre saddles his ultra-smart three-time Group One winner Sosie as he looks to add his name to the roll of honour. Two of those top-level victories have come in his last two starts and the Prix Ganay and Prix d'Ispahan winner – who currently heads the betting for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – adds a Gallic flavour to this stellar line-up. Sosie picks up impressively to reel in Sardinian Warrior and take out the Group One Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp! 🇫🇷 — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 25, 2025 Fabre said: 'I don't know if he has improved (this season), he has been running over a different distance and he's a triple Group One winner. 'The horse hasn't surprised me this year, he has just confirmed what I thought. 'He is meeting different opposition on Saturday and it is an interesting race, with two Classic winners and a good older horse of Godolphin's – it's a good race. 'The ground is not a concern, he doesn't like the soft and enjoys that good ground.' Andre Fabre is the master trainer (Adam Morgan/PA) On what it would mean to add the Eclipse to his already glittering CV, the trainer added: 'Any race I'm running in I'm happy to win it, whether it's the Eclipse or a race in the country. It's not a trainer's race, it's a horse race.' It is no surprise to see Aidan O'Brien well-represented in this first major clash of the generations as the race's most successful trainer bids for a record-extending ninth success with beaten Derby favourite Delacroix (Ryan Moore) and French Derby hero Camille Pissarro (Christophe Soumillon). O'Brien said: 'Both of them have been very good since their last runs and we felt in the Derby with Delacroix, he got knocked down at the top of the hill and ended up too far back and I'd say the trip was too far. That's what we think. 'We didn't know going for the French Derby if Camille Pissarro would get the trip, but he did get it. This is probably a little bit tougher track and a tougher race, but everything has gone well and he's in good shape.' Ruling Court after winning the 2000 Guineas (Joe Giddens/PA) Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell is another of the Classic generation to make the trip from Ireland, while Charlie Appleby's 2000 Guineas champion Ruling Court finally steps up in trip after defeat at Royal Ascot. Charlie Appleby told 'The tempo of the St James's Palace Stakes was completely different to what Ruling Court encountered in the 2000 Guineas. They went an end-to-end gallop and he never really looked comfortable throughout the race. 'We have always wanted to step him up in trip and a mile and a quarter is probably the ideal distance to aim for as a first try over middle distances. There is only one Derby, so we obviously had a look at the mile-and-a-half route before deciding not to run at Epsom due to the ground. 'Conditions at Sandown look there to suit. He has won around the course before and has a significant weight pull against the older horses, which can often come into play in an Eclipse. It's a small but very strong field, and he's a Classic-winning colt who doesn't look out of place in the field.'
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
I'm taking on the favourite in the Coral-Eclipse with a winner staring us all in the face
Oh for a crystal ball to know who will be in front after a furlong in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. It's a puzzle Carol Vorderman would surely relish. As I have written many times, pace is a crucial factor in solving most horse races, but it's not the be all and end all. Ultimately, the best horse can win whatever the circumstances, and for those of us looking at an angle into the Eclipse, it's possible we might just be overcomplicating things believing this is a race to be 'stolen' from the front. After all, on paper strong favourite Ombudsman is the clear form choice. Indeed, after his Prince of Wales's romp Ombudsman is not only the best horse in this afternoon's feature shown live at 3.35 on ITV, but with a mark of 128 he's actually the best turf horse on the planet. And that's an accolade given to the John & Thady Gosden-handled inmate after just six appearances, so there is no reason why he won't have plenty more to show us. Ombudsman also has decent course form, having chased home Almaqam on his seasonal return in the Brigadier Gerard, so the track holds no fears. It was a belting return and no one will be surprised if Ombudsman romps in. And what about Sosie? Andre Fabre's rare Eclipse raider is another belting colt. Sosie has won six of his nine outings and was sent off favourite when finishing fourth in last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Since then, Sosie has run twice, over 1m1f and an extended 1m2f. He scored on both occasions, landing Group 1s in the Ganay and Prix d'Ispahan. But I want to take both Sosie and Ombudsman on, even if it seems a bit crackers. It's a hunch that the Prince of Wales's form might not be quite what it looks. There's no doubt Los Angeles ran well below par and Anmaat did well in second but the ground was against him. As for Sosie, despite the evidence I still feel he might be best over a longer trip. So who might cause an upset? That's where the pace angle stares one in the face. With no pacemaker involved this is an Eclipse gagging for a leader who can keep quickening from the front. DELACROIX is a strong stayer at this trip, led when landing the Ballysax at Leopardstown and was bang to the fore in the Derby Trial at the same track. The Dubawi colt, trained by Aidan O'Brien and the pick of Ryan Moore, never showed up at Epsom. His sire Dubawi has never sired a Derby winner, but he has at least produced two Eclipse winners in Al Kazeem and Ghaiyyath. In what's an Eclipse to savour we have two Classic winners in the field in French Derby hero Camille Pissarro and 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court to consider, and outsider Hotazhell is no mug himself. Who will eclipse them? It's Delacroix for me. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Sosie carrying French hopes of total Eclipse at the weekend
The four-year-old has won six of his nine starts for Andre Fabre, breaking his Group One duck in the Grand Prix de Paris last season before signing off with a fourth-placed finish in the Arc. The Sea The Stars colt appears to have taken his game to another level since returning to action this spring, successfully dropping back in trip to land both the Prix Ganay and the Prix d'Ispahan at ParisLongchamp, and connections expect a stiff mile and a quarter at Sandown to suit him ideally. Sosie lands the Group One Prix Ganay on his seasonal reappearance!🇫🇷 The Sea The Stars colt was always doing enough to hold on from the fast-finishing Map Of Stars! — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) April 27, 2025 Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for owners the Wertheimer brothers, said: 'I think he's a very good horse, he's won three Group Ones and we're very excited to travel him to England for such a big race. 'The fact he has now won Group Ones over nine furlongs and 10 furlongs changed a lot of things, of course. I don't know how the ground (at Sandown) is going to be at the moment, but he will be happy with good ground.' Sosie is second-favourite for the Eclipse behind John and Thady Gosden's Ombudsman, who is set to turn out less than three weeks after his brilliant display in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. Aidan O'Brien's French Derby winner Camille Pissarro and the Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat are other contenders for what looks a particularly strong renewal, but having seen Vadeni become the first French-trained winner of the race since 1960 three years ago, Sosie's camp are relishing the challenge. 'I think it's a very good test and it's a very strong field,' Bureau added. 'It will be interesting to see the three-year-olds and it comes quite quickly for the horses after Royal Ascot, but our horse is doing very well and hopefully he can be competitive.' It is 10 years since the famous Wertheimer silks were last carried into the Group One winner's enclosure in Britain, with Solow winning the Queen Anne, the Sussex Stakes and the QEII during a fantastic 2015 campaign. Bureau said: 'We don't come that often, but we like to come with horses that have strong chances. 'It's going to be very exciting, hopefully Sosie can continue the very nice start he has made this year.'
